JOHOR BAHRU: A 21-year-old salesman is believed to have been brutally beaten by his employer here recently.

Seri Alam police chief Supt Jokhiri Abd Aziz said police only got to know of the incident after a police report was lodged by the victim’s sister around 10.26pm on Tuesday.

“The victim who sold vehicle accessories at a mobile stall for the suspect was allegedly beaten by the suspect at his residence in Taman Johor Jaya.

“Seri Alam police are currently tracking down the suspect and his family to assist in investigations,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Jokhiri added that the victim was an old acquaintance of the suspect and lived together with the suspect and his family at a rented shophouse.

“At 7.30pm Tuesday night, the victim’s family took away the victim from the suspect’s house after suspecting that he was abused by the suspect when noticing serious injuries on the victim who was weak and in a disoriented state,” he explained.

Jokhiri said the suspect was also believed to have caned, beaten and kicked the victim.

The victim, who was allegedly kept captive for three months, was sent to Sultan Ismail Johor Bahru Hospital to undergo a medical check up and to be treated following the police report.

“To date, no arrests have been made as the suspect had escaped with his family members after the victim’s family rescued him,” Jokhiri said.

Police urged anyone with information on the incident to assist in investigations or provide information to the nearest police station or contact the Johor Police Contingent hotline at 07-2212999 or Seri Alam Police headquarters hotline at 07-3864222.